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Title: Integrating Variable Renewable Energy: Challenges and Solutions

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1097911· OSTI ID:1097911

In the U.S., a number of utilities are adopting higher penetrations of renewables, driven in part by state policies. While power systems have been designed to handle the variable nature of loads, the additional supply-side variability and uncertainty can pose new challenges for utilities and system operators. However, a variety of operational and technical solutions exist to help integrate higher penetrations of wind and solar generation. This paper explores renewable energy integration challenges and mitigation strategies that have been implemented in the U.S. and internationally, including forecasting, demand response, flexible generation, larger balancing areas or balancing area cooperation, and operational practices such as fast scheduling and dispatch.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Wind Power Program
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1097911
Report Number(s):
NREL/TP-6A20-60451
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English